Romans 13:1-7
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
1 Peter 2:13-17
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men — 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Titus 3:1
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey ….
But on the other hand:
Acts 5:29
We must obey God rather than men.
So obey the rules of men, unless they conflict with the rules of God.
Since the rules of God generally subtract freedom as well, a dictator would have carte blanche with Christians to rule as he pleases. As a Christian, you can protest all you want, but civil disobedience or revolution is an unavailable option to you.
How convenient for a totalitarian government. “The authorities that exist are appointed by God.” That certainly seems to echo in some eerie statements President Bush has made while appealing to the religious right.